réflexion

Forms

réflexion f (plural réflexions)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin reflexiō (“a turning back, return”),^[2][3][4][5] formed on reflexum, the supine of reflectō (“to bend back”) (see réfléchir).^[2][6] In Late Latin it also meant “reflected light” (early 4th century), and in Medieval Latin the reflection of light (before 1250) and “meditation, self-knowledge” (13th century).^[2][3] Bloch and Wartburg describe it as taken to serve as the abstract noun of that verb.^[4]

Cognate with Occitan reflexio, Spanish reflexión and Italian riflessione.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Nicole Oresme first uses it in 1377, in his Livre du ciel et du monde, as a term of physics: light retourne par reflexion “turns back by reflection”.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

At first a term of mechanics for a body thrown back by an obstacle, it soon specialized in optics for light sent back by a surface (14th century, as refliction), and was later extended to sound waves (1694) and, loosely, to heat (1845).^[3][8] An anatomical sense, “folding back on itself” (15th century), has disappeared.^[3][4]

The intellectual sense came before that of the verb réfléchir: after an isolated reffrection de pensee “meditation” (1532), it was used from the mid-17th century for the mind turning back on itself to examine something (1637, Descartes).^[3][2] By metonymy une réflexion became a thought set down in speech or writing (1643, Corneille), and the plural réflexions a set of moral thoughts, as in La Rochefoucauld's title (1664).^[3][2] By extension it is used for a remark aimed at someone, and familiarly for an unkind one.^[3]

Timeline

• 1377 – Oresme uses it as a term of physics.^[2][9]
• 14th century – It is used in optics, written refliction.^[3][8]
• 1532 – Reffrection de pensee “meditation” is recorded.^[3]
• 1637 – Descartes uses it for the action of the mind that reflects.^[2][3]
• 1643 – Corneille uses it for a thought arising from reflection.^[2]
• 1664 – La Rochefoucauld's Réflexions takes it as a title.^[3]
• 1669 – Faire réflexion is recorded.^[3]
• 1690 – Furetière records angle de réflexion.^[8][3]
• 1785 – The derivative irréflexion appears.^[4][3]
• 1788 – Réflexion faite and toute réflexion faite are recorded.^[3]
• 1870 – À la réflexion is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (physics) The change of direction of waves (light, sound) that meet a surface; reflection: angle de réflexion.^[9][10][3]
2. The turning of the mind back on an idea or situation in order to examine it; thought, deliberation: réflexion faite, à la réflexion “on second thoughts”.^[10][3][1]
3. The capacity for careful thought; thoughtfulness.^[3][9]
4. A thought resulting from reflection, spoken or written; in the plural, a collection of moral thoughts.^[2][3]
5. A remark addressed to someone, often an unkind one.^[3][1]

Word family

• irréflexion

Related words

• refléter
• reflet
• réfléchir
• réflexif
• Latin reflectō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 10, 191b
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)